Obama: Americans must reject ‘falsehoods and promises of higher walls’

The mean, ugly and divisive nature of this year’s presidential election won’t pay off at the polls, President Obama said during a hopeful message from Washington on Thursday evening. 

{mosads}Speaking from his final Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute gala as commander in chief, Obama alluded to Republican nominee Donald Trump’s previous comments that many see as offensive to minorities and immigrants. 

“I know there are a lot of folks here that have this notion of what the real America looks like, and somehow it only includes a few of us,” Obama said. 

“But who’s going to decide who the real America is? Who’s to determine that in this nation of immigrants, in a nation where unless you are a Native American, you came here from someplace else, that you have a greater claim than anybody here?” 

Though Obama didn’t mention Trump by name, he encouraged voters to “band together” to reject the divisive ideals of the presidential race. 

“Throughout this political season, the talk around these issues cut deeper than in years past. It’s a little more personal. It’s a little meaner. A little uglier. And folks are betting that if they can drive us far enough apart and put down enough of us because of where we come from, or what we look like, or what religion we practice, that it might pay off at the polls, but that’s a bet they’re going to lose,” Obama said. 

“If we band together and organize our communities, if we deliver enough voters, then the better angels of our nature will carry the day, but it’s going to take all of us.” 

Obama also called for meaningful immigration reform, and in a veiled shot at Trump, said leaders must push back against “bluster, falsehoods and promises of higher walls.” 

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is also slated to speak at the gala.